Recently, the organization I studied abroad with USAC, gave me a list of questions regarding my experience and how it has changed my life. I sat in a coffee shop, trying to convey in writing, all the wonderful, amazing, unbelievable things I did studying abroad. Reflecting on my experiences as a student in Thailand and ...

A large part of why I chose to study abroad in India was to work with marginalized populations effected by poverty, lack of education, and the caste system. The caste system, although not legal in India, is still a very common social practice. Traditionally divided into four main castes, the lowest caste is referred to as ...

Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park makes for the perfect half-day retreat from the fast pace of the city. There is a minimal admission fee of $2. Once inside, you can opt to walk the 5 mile trail, or pay $5 roundtrip transportation to the Kanheri Caves, dating back to 1st Century BC. The park itself ...

Travel is scary, isn’t it? What about the food, the train crashes, the thieves, ………..I saw somewhere once, that some ______ was robbed in ______. Has scary things like that happened to you? Maybe it’s like the adrenaline you get when watching a scary movie, or maybe it is self sabotage……. a way for people to reassure themselves ...

The most common response to my travels is some version of “Wow, lucky, I wish I could travel but I could never afford it.” And to that, I want to say hogwash! Sadly, I have spent many a wasted hour, blue in the face, trying to convince my skeptics that I don’t in ...

The smell of grilling meats, endless fields of bright green rice patties, barefoot monks strolling the streets, this is the magic of Laos. Often overlooked by tourists, Laos is a gem for budget travelers, adventurists, foodies, or anyone looking to experience a unique part of Asia. My first time to Laos, I was 20 years ...

An amazing part of studying abroad, is the ability to jaunt over to a nearby country for a couple of days, so when we had a week break, we jumped at the chance to head from Thailand to Malaysia. With just one night in the capital, we weren’t able to do Kuala Lumpur much justice, ...

One of my favorite parts of my job in Thailand was planning parties for the International College students. When Halloween came around we were given a budget to provide a true American Halloween experience for about 200 students. So of course we rented out a club complete with Halloween décor, and unlimited food and whiskey, ...

“Life is like a book, those who don’t travel only read one page.” - The concept of Studying Abroad brings about different emotions for different people. Although images of partying your way around Spain are enough for some to take the plunge, many people just don’t know all the amazing, countless options there are for ...

Hi, I’m Caitie!

I am a twenty-something girl in search of beaches, street food, volunteering, cultural immersion, and of course, good cold beer (hence the balanced backpacker)! I started this website as a resource for those who want to travel more affordably, more frequently, and more well rounded. If you like incredible FOOD, beautiful BEACHES, insane PARTIES, experiencing CULTURE, and meeting PEOPLE from around the world, then I’m your girl!